Can You Buy Second-Hand Fence Materials?

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There’s no denying that life has got pretty expensive lately! We’re all trying to save a buck wherever we can, and if you’re looking to install or repair a fence, you might be wondering if you can do that by buying second-hand fence materials.

Let’s take a closer look at what kind of second-hand fence materials you might be able to find and where you should look if you’re in the market for used fencing materials.

Some Fence Material Can Be Reused

Often, when a fence is taken down, the posts will be pulled out with equipment or machinery, which usually leaves them bent and mostly unusable.

However, as long as it’s taken down carefully, you might be able to use fence mesh, gates, and even some fittings or panels.

Of course, when fence material is sold used, it is sold “as is” so you really do need to inspect it carefully before you write a check!

Where Can You Find Second-Hand Fence Materials?

If you are willing to put in the extra work inspecting second-hand fence materials and then buying all the stuff you can’t find used elsewhere, there are several places you might be able to find used fence materials. These include:

• Online classified sites, where property owners or smaller contractors might advertise this kind of material for sale
• Metal recycling and scrap yards – this is a good resource too because some also sell used steel and other metals, so you might be able to buy new to you posts there as well
• Call local fence companies in your area, and ask them if they have any second-hand materials, or any projects coming up that you might be able to collect materials from
• Sometimes, fence companies also install temporary or semi-permanent fences, and when they do, they might keep some or all of the materials to be reused or resold

You do need to have a good working knowledge of fencing to ensure you get all the materials you need for your fence project, but if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you could save some money on fence materials this way.

What Kinds of Fences Can’t Be Reused?

Of course, there are some kinds of fences that can’t be reused. Sometimes, that’s because of the condition of the materials, and sometimes, it’s just because it’s not suitable for a different site.

Some examples of fences that are likely to be damaged beyond reuse is rusted ornamental fence, old wood fences, and damaged precast concrete fence.

Other types of fence that are usually only suited to one site include vinyl fence, which usually has routered holes in posts made specifically for that site (and parts that don’t work with other vinyl fence systems), or purpose-made fully welded palisade or bar fence panels. These are often manufactured to follow slopes on the site, so unless you have similar slopes, they just won’t work!

Is It Worth Seeking Out Second-Hand Fence Materials?

As you can see, there’s quite a lot of work that goes into finding used fence materials and ensuring that they are right for your project.

The time and effort that you used to do this might not be worth the cost saving, particularly if you have to pay for freight or transport as well as the materials. That’s especially true if you plan to hire someone to install the fence. Sometimes, working with used fence materials will add to your labor costs, and this will be a zero-sum saving exercise!

On the other hand, if you’re doing a low-cost, low-security project and you need a fair amount of materials that you plan to install yourself, it might well be worth your while.

Second-hand fencing can also be used for other things, whether you want to stabilize a slope with some mesh or something else. In this case, this is a very cost-effective option if you’re patient enough to search for the materials you need.